“For me, literature is a form of play. But I’ve always added that there are two forms of play: football, for example, which is basically a game, and then games that are very profound and serious... Literature is like that—it’s a game, but it’s a game one can put one’s life into. One can do everything for that game.” – Julio Cortázar

Pre-Texts Active internationally since 2007, Pre-Texts is an artist/educator training program that combines high-order literacy, innovation, and citizenship. Through workshops that use art making to facilitate close reading, we encourage teachers to replicate the simple protocol of Pre-Texts: have students ask questions about complex texts, create artistic interpretations, and reflect on the process. As facilitators, teachers use classic literature as a prompt for making art, and the arts as vehicles for learning and civic engagement. Pre-Texts develops avid and creative readers from all grade levels and socioeconomic environments.

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